On Thursday, Roli, a company known for its innovative music technology, introduced its newest educational product at the NAAM audio show in Anaheim, California. The product is called the Roli Piano, and it’s an upgraded version of their previous products, like the Roli Airwave and Piano M. The Roli Piano has 49 keys, which is more than double the 24 keys found on the Piano M.
The Roli Piano works similarly to the earlier models. It has MIDI keys that light up and connect with a special app on your smartphone or tablet, which helps you learn to play music. The Airwave model also includes a feature that tracks your hand movements, allowing you to create sounds based on gestures.
However, the new Roli Piano comes with a hefty price tag of $599, which is more than double the current price of the Piano M, which is $249. To encourage early buyers, Roli is offering a special deal for a limited time, pricing the new model at $399 for those who act quickly.
In line with modern trends, Roli is also incorporating generative AI into their new product. They have introduced the Piano AI Assistant, which they describe as “the first step in using generative AI to make learning to play easier, more intuitive, and more fun than ever before.” This Assistant will help users learn music and understand music theory as part of their lessons.
Over the past year, Roli has shifted its focus to the Piano line of products. This change makes sense for the company, especially since they faced bankruptcy in 2021. While their previous products like the Seaboard and Blocks were innovative, they didn’t capture a large audience in the music industry. In contrast, music education is a huge market, which presents a better opportunity for a smaller company like Roli to succeed.
